Is it me? Or, are NHL goalies falling like flies these days?
In Minneapolis/St. Paul, starting tender Nik Backstrom was injured.
Dallas starter Kari Lehtonen returned to action Thursday night after missing five starts due to injury.
In New York City, Henrik Lundqvist has been nursing a lower body ailment that is preventing him from practicing and he missed Thursday night's game vs. Philly.
In Nashville, Pekka Rinne will miss at least the next four weeks with an infection in his hip.
On Thursday night in Raleigh, cans starter Cam Ward suffered a lower body injury and will miss the next four weeks.
Ward out 3-4 weeks, Canes announce. Mike Murphy being recalled.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has upheld the 10 game suspension to Sabres energy winger Patrick Kaleta, who was originally banned after he hit Columbus Blue Jackets D-man Jack Johnson in the head on October 10. Johnson wasn’t injured as a result of the hit, nor was Kaleta was not called for a penalty.
Read Bettman’s thorough, 17 page analysis here:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/en/v3/ext/pdfs/Kaleta_Patrick - Decision on Appeal - Oct. 24, 2013.pdf
Kaleta has one more appeal option if he chooses to use it. He now has seven days to file through a neutral discipline arbitrator. Kaleta would be the first NHL players to travel down this route since the new CBA was instituted some 18 months ago.
The big question now is:
Will Kaleta accept his full 10 game ban, or, will he try to get it reduced?
As the lyric from the title song from the '70s thriller "The Poseidon Adventure" goes, "there has to be a morning after". Haven't seen the flick? Its about a sinking ship.
I digress.
John Scott spoke after the Sabres practiced today.
Scott said vehemently today that there was no intent to injure Boston's Loui Eriksson on Wednesday night. Scott called his hit on the Bruins power forward "unfortunate".
"It was unfortunate what happened." -John Scott, who says he feels bad about it and hopes Eriksson is OK
Scott also said that he texted Loui Eriksson to apologize to the winger. Scott said he didn't realize it was a head shot.
Scott took exception to always being referred to as a goon .
"I regret the whole situation", Scott said.
Thanks, NBC Sports Network
“I don’t think I’m a dirty player,” Scott said. “I try to play within the code, within the rules. This is my first suspension. I don’t think I’m dirty. I don’t try to be a dirty player. I kind of feel really upset. I was sick to my stomach last night knowing what happened watching the video. I just kind of regret the whole situation. I don’t want to be a dirty player.”
An apologetic, emotional Scott wanted people to know that he's more than just a fighter.
“There was 14 minutes left in the game,” Scott said. “If you watch my shifts, our line was doing pretty well. We had zone time, we were playing really well. So to say he sends me out there just to hurt somebody is just asinine, is just completely false and not what happens at all.”Then Scott started becoming a bit emotional.“I’m a hockey player,” he said. “I go out there and I play my game. I’m physical, I hit. That’s my role. Like, I’m not going to score a million goals. I get frustrated.”
Say what you want about John Scott.
The record reflects that he has never been suspended from the NHL. He doesn't have a rap sheet. He's not a repeat offender. He's never taken a major penalty other than a fighting major until last night's major penalty for charging.
There are people screaming from roof tops that the massive enforcer should be suspended indefinitely or for 30 games. Thats not going to happen. He'll have a face to face gearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety.
Buffalo Sabres left wing John Scott will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for a hit on Boston Bruins forward Loui Eriksson during the teams' game Wednesday at First Niagara Center.
Scott was offered the opportunity for an in-person hearing as required by provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for any suspension that can exceed five games.
At 5:49 of the third period, Scott came across the ice and hit Eriksson in the neutral zone after Eriksson had moved the puck. Scott received a match penalty for illegal check to the head, as well a five-minute fighting major for an altercation with Boston's Adam McQuaid that followed the play.
Eriksson received assistance leaving the ice and did not return. The Bruins announced after the game that he would be staying in Buffalo overnight for observation, but was expected to return to Boston on Thursday.
The following grounds are being considered for supplemental discipline: Illegal check to the head. However, the Department of Player Safety retains the right to make adjustments to the infraction upon review.
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